Cartridge for use with liquid oxygen and process of producing same



Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHESTER MOTT, OF DENVER, COLORADO,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

PUROX COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

CARTRIDGE FOR USE WITH LIQUID OXYGEN AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

No Drawing.

My invention relates to the art of producing explosives and particularly tothe art of utilizing highly concentrated oxygen, preferably in the form of a liquid, .for producing such explosives.

It is now possible to commercially produce liquid oxygen which can be transported for short distances and held in liquid form for considerable periods by the use of suitable vacuum jacketed containers. This liquid oxygen when properly mixed with carbonaceous material forms a very potent explosive and one having certain special advantages. In the utilization of liquid oxygen as an explosive, I propose to produce a cartridge forming the subject matter of this application, this cartridge being formed of materials which are themselves chemically quite inert and absolutely non-explosive. The

liquid oxygen is preferably produced by a socalled oxygen liquefaction machine at or close to the point at which the explosive is to be used, the cartridges being preferably dipped in the liquid oxygen, which is absorbed by and saturates the carbonaceous material. The saturated cartridge is then placed at the point at which the explosion is desired and is detonated by any of the methods used in connection with other high explosives.

Liquid oxygen when used in this way is superior to dynamite and other high explosives. For example, neither the liquid oxygen, nor the cartridges are in themselves explosive, and hence can be handled and transported with absolute safety. The oxygen saturated cartridges have the added advantage that if not exploded immediately, the oxygen evaporates and they again become non-explosive. If, therefore, the cartridges are left in exposed positions, or are placed in bore holes and not exploded, they will in a comparatively, short time lose their power, so that accidental explosion is thereafter impossible.

The problem of producing an efficient carbonaceous cartridge for use with li uid oxygen is a diflicult one. Such cartri ges may be formed of carbon black, charcoal or other 50 carbonaceous substances. but I have found that the following method produces a very superior cartridge for use in this connection. In the practice of my invention I utilize as a portion of the material making up the cartridge, impure waste molasses from sugar Application filed August 13, 1923. Serial No. 657,269.

beet factories. This molasses, which contains the mineral .salts carried by the beets in their original form, and a certain proportion of water, also contains a considerable proportion of sugar, which, however, it is extremely difficult to separate from the remaining mass, so that the present commercial value of this waste is very small.

I treat this material as follows:

The molasses is first dehydrated by heat to produce a pasty or solid mass. This material may be dehydrated'to only such a degree that it is still sufliciently pasty and ad-' herent to be readily formed up into a stiff cartridge. I prefer in the manufacture of my cartridges to add to the pasty mass so produced from one to three parts of powdered charcoal or carbon black, so that the resulting cartridge contains from 25% to 50% of dehydrated molasses, the remainder being commercially pure carbon. The cartridges should be suiliciently porous to readily absorb and become saturated with the liquid oxygen upon being dipped therein.

Theoretically, for the purpose of producing a complete combination of the carbon and oxygen, 2.66 parts by weight of oxygen should. be supplied for each part of carbon. I have found that a very perfect dehydration and apparently a very complete combination can be formed using my cartridge. where oxygen to approximately the amount of one and one -half times the weight of carbon is supplied. In other words, the explosion and apparently the complete combustion of my cartridge are produced with the expenditure of a little over one-half of the theoretically necessary amount of oxygen. I am unable to state positively the reason for this superior result. but it may possibly be due to the presence in the mass of the small percentage of water carried by the sugar, or perhaps some mineral salts carried therein.

I am of the opinion. although the sugar waste is extremely cheap and probably one of the most available sources of material. that other carbo-hydrates might be readily used in the place of molasses. While I have stated that it is desirable to add to the partially dehydrated molasses,a considerable 1 volume of free carbon, it is obvious that the same result can be produced by partially burning a portion of the molasses. One of the advantages of the cartridge of my invention resides in the fact that a smaller amount use with a cartridge of the same size and of liquid oxygen is necessary to be used with one of said cartridges than it is necessary to made wholly of carbonaceous material in order to secure an ideal detonation thereof when a given length of time has elapsed after the absorption by said cartridge of said liquid oxygen. It is to be noted that the life of the cartridge is determined by the length of time it requires for the oxygen to evaporate therefrom. If it were necessary to have in the cartridge "oxygen in the amount of approximately three times the weight of its carbon content to produce a perfectexplosion, it is obvious that if the cartridge were to be used at a point somewhat distant from the point of dipping and therefore at a time considerably later than the time of dipping, a considerable excess quantity of oxygen would have to be added to compensate for the later evaporation. If, therefore, it is possible by the use of my peculiar material to produce a complete combustion with a smaller amount of' oxygen, it is obvious that the amount of evaporation therefrom can be considerably greater than were more oxygen required, and it is further obvious that the M, cartridge will be efficient for a much longer period. t

I have carried out quite extensive experiments with the cartridge of my invention but have not been able to determine the reason for the ideal detonation of this cartridge with a less quantity of liquid oxygen than other cartridges of similar size formed entirely of carbon. At least two distinct theories might be advanced for this economical use of liquid oxygen by my cartridge. One of these is that due to its composition it retains the gas absorbed more tenaciously than the carbon cartridge, therefore requiring .the absorption of a lesser quantity than the carbon cartridge in order to have retained a given quantity of oxygen at .the time of detonation. The second theory is that the substance of which my cartridge is formed possesses a catalytic nature and promotes complete union between the oxygen and the solid substance of the cartridge,so that a Waste of oxygen, which wouldoccur without v this catalytic agent, is thereby obviated.=

I claim as my invention: i 7 1. A cartridge for use with liquid oxygen for producing an explosion comprising a porous mass of carbonaceous material containing-dehydrated molasses.

2. A method of forming a cartridge suit- I able for use with liquid oxygen for producing an explosion which comprises dehydrating an impure molasses, thereby making a porous substance. K 7

3. A method of forming a cartridge suitable for use with liquid oxygen for producing an explosion which comprises dehydratoxygen associated with said material and said carbon.

6. A cartridge for use with liquid oxygen for producing an explosion, said cartridge comprising a mass of porous material formed by heating the waste molasses of sugar beet factories,and free-carbon in the percentage of substantially 50% to 75% of the weight of the cartridge. 1

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Denver, Colorado, this 6th day of August, 1923.

CHESTER MOTT. 

